(Bishop of Korhogo, Ivory Coast)
It was Jesus who wished that His work be pursued in the activities of men. That is why His spirit lives with men till the end of time. It makes them witnesses of Christ. "You shall be my witnesses". The order has been well received by men. It incites them to announce the Good News through the word and through the witness of life. Africa, evangelised by the West, has in turn been engaged in evangelisation through a Church which contributes to the human promotion as to the transformation of cultures. The African Church is looking to heartfelt adhering to Christ according to its own aspirations. Evangelisation is however accomplished in a new conceptual context and vision.
For a long time, one believed that evangelisation did not concern the clergy or the religious. Today, it calls upon all the dynamic elements engaged in the pursuit of Christ. The lay faithful have understood that they are part of the Royal Priesthood. The African Church is proud of its millions of catechists who transmit the message of Christ throughout the world.
The young African Churches, dynamic, should reveal themselves as such in their different initiatives. The hour has come to look at evangelisation in depth. Africa, and especially the Ivory Coast, can no longer be content with the first announcement. There, faith is still fragile despite the efforts used by the first missionaries. A syncretism which confronts fetishism and Christianity seems to persist. There are still areas of primary evangelisation and there are strong calls fortunately.
One must remember that Africa was called upon in Kampala. If we want to be our own missionaries, we still want to co-operate with the foreign missionaries. The world awaits the witness of ecclesial and missionary co-operation. The Church of Africa needs to be encouraged in the difficult economic context. How can she announce the Good News of salvation to hordes of famished people who are not free. Evangelisation as annunciation also requires consideration of the human and economic context, which is degrading ever more in Africa.
Original
text: French
